The National Reform and Development Commission will dispatch investigators to the main production and sales areas of garlic, following a rise in garlic prices from a few Yuan RMB to nine Yuan per kilogram since 2009. The most recent record price, according to Caijing, was at 16 Yuan RMB per kilogram on Monday. The commission cited several reasons for the price rises today (Friday), one being that in the past, prices for garlic had been too low, which had led to a decrease in fields dedicated to its production, which in turn led to scarce supplies. As production was gradually going up again, the price had started to gradually normalize. Prices for green beans and similar products had also risen, due to unusual weather conditions. But an official with the commission also conceded that it couldn’t be ruled out that some people took the opportunity of malicious speculation, by hoarding and profiteering (也不排除有人借机恶意炒作、囤积居奇). The garlic madness had created many millionaires (“疯狂的大蒜”已造就了不少千万富翁).

“Most guests who have been to Taiwan and to China say that Taiwan is so much better. Taiwan has many advantages, but doesn’t know how to sell that. What did the Taiwanese tourism office, for example, choose as its logo? Taipei 101. Shanghai has some fifty similar towers at its waterfront. I can’t see how a new building can be the main selling point for the island? On the other hand, Taiwan has some 250 mountains with an altitude of more than 300 meters, with snow on the tallest ones, people are friendly – but nobody knows that! Everyone who comes here is pleasantly surprised. […]

Taiwan is a beautiful island, and I’ve sent people around the island who had a great holiday. Unfortunately, nobody here has thought about how to market tourism. One needs to find out what the Germans, Americans, or Japanese want when they come here.“

Jürgen Klemm, Westin Taipei, in an interview with Taiwan Heute, January 2010.

Chinese Chief State Councillor Wen Jiabao (温家宝), according to Phoneix TV on Thursday, quoted by Southern Metropolis Daily, told media that besides stronger security measures, improved efforts to address long-standing social concerns were needed to address the deeper causes (解决造成问题的深层次的原因) of a series of school attacks in recent weeks:

“The government also gives high priority to several cases of homicide, causing casualties among children, which deeply saddens us, and to the tragedy it brings to their families. Besides taking strong security measures, we must also pay attention to solving some deeper causes, including some social contradictions, and resolving disputes, strengthening mediation at the grassroots – all this we are working on. I believe that we can give not only children, but everyone, a harmonious, safe environment.”